Device for controlling movement of a member on a conveyer



1953 c. HORNBEROGER DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING MOVEMENT OF A MEMBER ON ACONVEYER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 9 1951 INVENTOR- R "uh R E B N R oH L E C N E R A L C ATTORNEY 1953 c. HORNBERGER 2,624,440

DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING MOVEMENT OF A MEMBER ON A CONVEYER Filed June 9,1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR C LARENCE L.HORNBERGER Min 6 T ATTORNEYJan. 6, 1953 c. L. HORNBERGER 2,624,440

DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING MOVEMENT OF A MEMBER ON A CONVEYER Filed June 9,1951 '5 Sheets-Sheet a SOURCE 33 INVENTOR CLARENCE L. HORNBERGERATTORNEY Patented Jan. 6, 1953 DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING MOVEMENT OF AMEMBER ON A CONVEYER Clarence L. Hornberger, Manheim Township, LancasterCounty, Pa., assignor to Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster, -Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Application June 9, 1951, SerialNo.-2'30,-731

8 Claims.

, This inventionrelates to a device for controlling the'movement' of amember such as a mold'travelingsoii-a roller conveyor to'arrest the freemovement of the mold, to bring it to a fixed position of rest, andsubsequently to impart motion to the mold to move it along the'conveyor.

The invention will'be applicable to controlling the movement of membersof various sorts in many different manufacturing operations, such asfilled'orat'es or packing cases which are to be brought to a position ofrest where the covers 'are 'tobesecured 'by nailing or banding, and thecrate or case'nioved to a carloading or storage station. Also, it willbe applicable in foundry operations ioncont'rolling movement of heavyflasks from filling, tamp-ing, and other operating stations. The deviceWill be of general utility; but'for purposes of illustration, referencewill be made-to a mold controlling unit useful With molds used in themanufacture of cork composition.

In'tlie'iabrication of cork composition utilizing dielectric heating tocure the binder, the cork \granules'c'oatedwi'th a binder are char edinto amold'at a loading station. The mass in the mold "is compressed bymeans of a hydraulic press located at 'the loading station, the massbeing held'under applied compression by end plates locked to the 'ri'old Walls. The charged mold is then moved from the loading station anddeliv- "ered'along a'roller 'conveyor to a heating station where "themass is subjected to a field of force from=ahfgh freouency alternatingelectric curre'ntgeneratorto heatthe mass to a desired temsperatureiorbinder activation. After completion of the heating step, the mold isdelivered to a conveyor which "carries the mold over a path of travelback to the loading station where the com-'- iple'tedbody of corkcomposition is extracted from the mold-and a fresh chargeofbinder-coated cork 'granulesisdepositedin the mold and the opera-'tibnis'repe'ated.

The molds arefrelativelylarg'e, Weighing about 31100 pounds loadedfand asubstantial restraining force 'is required to arrest their movement asthey-"enter the various operating stations, the molds having gainedconsiderable momentum in the course of their travel along a rollerconveyor tram-one opei ati'ng station to the next one. When in anoperating station, it is essential generally 't'o 'a 'te'ly po's'itionthemold for the performaiibe of fabricating "operations. For instance,in 'theioading station, the mold must be accurately positioned topermitafilling boot to fit down into the mold'to-dir'ect the cork granulestherein. Also "accuracy of positioning is necessary to permit the 2compressing "ram of'the press to pass Withinthe mold opening to compressthe charge therein. In the heating station accurate positioning isnecessary to permit automatic connection of the heating elements to themold.

Movement of the mold from the at-rest position in the various operatingstations requires considerable force to imp-art sufiicient momentum tothe molds so that they will travel along the roller conveyor sections tothe next operating station.

An'object of the present invention is to provide a control device whichwill arrest free movement of 'a'member, bring'it to an at-rest position,and then impart movement to it from the atrest position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a control device in whichmovement of a member from an at-rest position 'is initiated by movementof "an oncoming member to be received and disposed insaid"at-restposition.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from considerationof 'the detailed description which follows.

According to this invention, there is provided a pivoted controlmechanism engageable with the member to becon'trolled, means connectedto the pivoted 'control mechanism for arresting the .free pivotalmovement of "said control mechanism for a portion of its rotation in onedirection toward an at-rest position, and means for imparting pivotalmotion to said control mechanism to bring it to said at-restposition, to move it to a molddelivery position, and to return it to amoldre'ceiv ing position.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, an embodimentthereof will be described in conjunction with the attached drawings, inwhich:

Figure l is a side elevational view, partially in section,illustrating'the invention;

igure 2 is a sectional view taken along DZ'II of Figure 1;

Figures 3, i, and 5 are diagrammatic views theline =shoW-ing'thepositions assumedby the mechanism tioned upon the rolls 4. Mounted onthe frame 3 in bearings 3 and 9 is a cross shaft in. Keyed to the crossshaft I3 are a pair of control arms H and |2. Each arm includes aportion |3 shown in Figure 1 which is provided with a pair of projectingbuttons hi and Hi secured to the arms I and I2 by threaded studs l6which are integral therewith. Nuts secure the buttons in position. Anactuating arm is also is keyed to cross shaft II] which carries thecontrol arms and |2. Actuating arm I 8 has pivoted thereto at It apiston rod which operates within a cylinder 2|. A second cylinder 22 issecured to cylinder 2| the two being bolted together by bolts 23 asshown in Figure 1 with an intermediate plate 24 disposed therebetween.The plate 24 serves as a guiding plate, the same being received over aguiding rod 25 fixed to the machine frame in suitable supportingstandards 26. A piston rod 27 operates within the cylinder 22 and ispivoted at 28 to a bracket 29 secured to the frame of the machine.Actuation of the pistons within the cylinders 2| and 22 is effective forcontrollin the motion of the arms H and |2 in the manner hereinafterdescribed.

Referring now to Figures 3, 4 and 5, the mold i is shown in an at-restposition in Figure 3 and in delivery and entering positions in Figures 4and 5, respectively.

With the mold 1 in the position shown in Figure 3, the piston incylinder 2| will be in its retracted position; whereas, the piston incylinder 22 will be in its extended position. This is effected throughthe valve arrangement and electrical control shown in Figure 6. Thereare a four-way valve 3|] and a three-way valve 3| which control theoperation of the pistons in cylinders 2| and 22. A safety valve 32 isprovided in series with the three-way valve 3|. The valves and 3|control the supply of actuating air to the cylinders 2| and 22,'and theactuating arm l8 which is connected by cross shaft In to the controlarms H and |2 is controlled by relative movement between the cylindersand their pistons.

A cushioning or arresting action is effected upon the mold 1 through thearms II and I2.

This is accomplished by continuously supplying the cylinder 2| with acompressible fluid under pressure, such as air at about four pounds persquare inch. This may be obtained by supplying air from a source 33 at60 pounds per square inch a pressure and delivering it through apressure control valve 34 set at four pounds per square inch, a one-waycheck valve 35. and a pressure relief valve 36. The pressure reliefvalve may be set to operate at about 28 pounds per square inch, for 4example. The check valve 35 permits the air to enter in front of thepiston 2|a of cylinder 2| but prevents the escape of air from thesystem, except through the pressure relief valve 36. The

control of actuating air for moving the piston 2|a in cylinder 2| fromits extended to the retracted position shown in Figure 3 is effectedthrough the three-way valve 3|, air being supplied thereto through line3! connected to the source 33 and air being exhausted through line 38.Valve 3| is electrically controlled as diagrammatically shown in Figure6, the same being of the solenoid type.

The supply of air for actuation of the piston 22a in cylinder 22 iscontrolled through solenoid valve '4 electrically connected in series asshown in Figure 6. Switch 42 is normally spring urged to a closedposition, and switch 43 is normally spring urged to an open position.

Solenoid valve 30 may be controlled manually by a switch 44 shown inFigure 6 or may be automatically controlled by switch 45 positioned on asection 45 of roller conveyor in advance of the section 2. For purposesof illustration of the control system reference will be made to themanual control switch 44.

Reference is now made to Figure 6 and to Figure 3 which shows the mold 1in the at-rest position. Switch 42 which, as mentioned above, isnormally closed, and switch 43, which is normally open but has beenclosed by contact of the mold with a pivoted actuating arm 4?, completethe circuit for the supply of current to the solenoid portion 48 of thevalve 3| from source of supply of electrical current S through leads 53,5|, 52, and. 53, all as shown in Figure 6. In this figure,

the switches 42 and 43 are shown in closed positions, their openpositions having been indicated by dotted lines. When solenoid 43 isenerg zed, valve 3| is opened as shown in Figure 3, and air underpressure fioWs from the supply source 33 through line 37 and valve 3|,through a line 54, through valve 32, which is normally open, and a lineto cylinder 2|, applying air pressure to the back of the piston 2|a andholding it against movement from its retracted position as shown.

Now assuming that the operation on mold 1 in the station shown in Figure3 has been completed, and it is desired to move the mold out of thestation, this is effected through actuation of the arms I and i2 throughrotation of the shaft Ill controlled by the actuating arm I8 in thefollowing manner: Switch 44 is manually controlled and the same isclosed for a limited period of time, adequate to permit movement of themold 1 from the conveyor section 2 onto conveyor section 56, forexample. If the movement of mold I from the at-rest position of Figure 3is automatically controlled by switch 45 positioned on conveyor section45, an advancing mold shown in Figure 4 will move over the control armof switch 45, moving the same from its normally open to a closedposition. This switch will function in the same manner as switch 44.Switch 44 (or the equivalent switch 45) controls the supply of currentfrom source S through leads 5! and 58 to the solenoid section 53 of thevalve 30, the other side of the line from the source being connected tothe solenoid section 59 through a lead 63. When the solenoid section 53is energized, the valve 30 will assume the position shown in Figure 4and air under 60 pounds per square inch pressure will be supplied fromthe source 33 through line 39 to the valve 35 and will flow through aflexible line 6| into the cylinder 22. All the supply lines connected tocylinders 2| and 22 must be flexible, for the cylinders move along guiderod 25 as previously mentioned. Since the piston rod 21 is fixed to themachine frame and the cylinder is free to move along the guide rod 25(Figure l), the application of air to the cylinder 22 throu h line 6|will cause the cylinders 2| and 22 which are connected to move in unisonupwardly along the guide rod 25. This will effect a clockwise motion tothe actuator arm l8 imparting a concomitant motion to the cross shaft 0and the control arms I and 2, air under pressure supplied to thecylinder 2| through line 55 preventing relative movement between thecylinder 2| and its piston Me. This motion of arms H and 2 brings thebuttons." 1.41: on; therarrhs; into: engagement 5' with thebackasideaof? lugs; 62*securedto theamold I and positioned to:lie'betweent buttons Mandl5 in the at-restsi' position: but .to be:engaged by the buttons Mxwherr. the arms I LandlZ-are moved from thatposition to a mold delivery position as shown in Eiguree', and toengage-buttons l5.when moving toward the; at-rest position as shown inFigure; Movement of the control-"arms from theiEigure; 3 to-the Figuredposition imparts momentum' to the mold 1, and it rolls along theconveyor-sections iand '5fito the next operating station. -Itwillbe'noted by reference to Figure 4.;thatthe1lugs-62 fully clear thebuttons l5 asi rotati'oniis imparted to the arms l i and 12, the arm H;beingsl'iow-nv in Figure 4. As: the'cylinders 2i and:225are;moved, the"air disposed in advance gtne piston-122a incylinder 22 is exhaustedtothe atmospheresthrough-line 153i the valve--30, and

As the-mold 1 moves from the conveyor section 2 onto the conveyorsection 56, switch 43 returns to itsrnormallyopenposition, contactcontrol arm having been disengaged bythe mold d. When this occurs, thecircuitfor the supply of energizing current for the solenoid section 48of valve 3! is interrupted and the valve 3| moves to itsclosedpositionshown in Figure 5. Thereupon, the piston in cylinder 21- ismoved to its extended position byair flowing from-the source-of supply33 through control valve 34-, check valve35, and reliefvalve'36. Whenthe piston 2 la in cylinder 2! ismoved in this manner, air is exhaustedthrough line-55,-safety-valve 32, and line 54 to valve 3!, and thencethrough exhaust line 3.8 therein. Movement of the piston rod of thepiston 2la in cylinder 2|, which rod ispivoted to the actuating-arm 48,-keyed to the crossshaft ID, causes the arms: I l and E2 to travel to aposition approaching-that atwhich the buttons, 15 on the arms H and l2will lie within the path of travel of the lugs 62 on the mold 1.

Final motion to the positionshown in Figure 5 is accomplished throughcontrol valve 39 in the following manner: upon manual release of switch4401 upon disengagement of an oncoming mold from the control arm ofswitch 45, the circuit for the supply of current for the solenoidsection 59 of the control valve is interrupted and the valve moves tothe position shown in Figure 5. Inv this position, air from the sourceof supply 33 passes through line 39 andvalve 39, through a line-53to-the cylinder 22, applying air pressure to the headdf'the pistontherein, andmoving the cylinders-21 and" 22"to the right as viewed inFigures 3; i, and 5" to the final position shown in Figure 5 withthe-arms l l and 12' in mold-receiving position. Itshould berememberedthatpiston'rod- Z'I is-secured to the machine'frame, and .application ofair pressure to-thepiston ZZais thus effective for moving the cylinders.When theactuat-ing arm l8 moves to the position shown inFigure 5itengages the control roller 42a of the switch moving the'same from itsnormally closed to an open position.

When the mold 1 moves into engagement with thebuttonslion the arms H andI2 it tends to rock. the, arms about their pivots, turning the crossshaft. [0. As mentioned above, the actuatingarm I8-is also keyedto thecross shaft 10 and any motionof the arms H and I2. imparts a mot-ion ofrotation in the same direction to theactuating'arm 3.. Such motion iscushioned bymovement of the piston'2 l awithincylinder 2|, fon-thepistonrod 203 is pivoted to the arm was shown inFigure 1. 1 As, previouslymentionedia-ir under-low pressure is'continuously supplied to thecylinderil; having been reduced by'va-lve 34 to, about 4 poundspersquareinch. As the piston 2m moves in the, cylinder 2lfrom the position. shownin Figure 5 tothe position of Figure 3, air in cylinder-2i is compresseduntilavalue of about 28 pounds per square inch is attained; whereuponreliefvalve 36 opens, venting the air to the-atmosphere and maintaininga cushioning force of about 28,-pounds persquare inchon the piston incylinder 2|; Thisacts asa shock absorber or cushioning devicewhicharrests the forwardmovement of the mold. Asmentioned above,theloaded mold may weigh, in excessof 3,000 pounds,and'suhstantialforces arecreated in its forward motion-whiehmust be:arrested;- abruptly and without excessive shock.

Asathei-arm l 8" is; moved ,byforwardmotionlof mold lagainstcontrol-armsII and; I2 and'the' SPEBCijOf' motion-is arrested, contactrollerr4 2a ofswitch iznioves to its normally closed position, solenoid 43' of valve'31- isenergized, and; at the sam time, mold'l'has engaged control:arm-t1 of switch 43 moving the same from its normally open to a-closedposition When this occurs, air from sourcetie flows through line 31,through valve 3|, line fi, valve 32 and line to the rear of. the pistonZia in cylinder! lcausing the same to move-to the position shown inFigure 3 to bring the mold" i to a final at-rest position. Since theair'applied'to the rear of piston 2hr is at pounds per square inch,- itwill overcome the back pressure of about 28 pounds per square inchapplied against the face of the piston 2 la. and controlled bypressure-relief valve 36; thus, the final motion ofthe mold to itsat-rest position will be restrained, facilitating accurate positioning;

Valve, 32: has its solenoid control "6 3 directlyconnected'to the sourceof current S through leads 55' and 68. This valve isnormally closed butis held open; upon energization of solenoid 64. Thus,- upon failure ofcurrent supply from source S, valve 32 will close, interrupting'themovement of air from cylinder 2i through line 55' thus insuring that thearms II and i2 will remain in an at-rest position.

The-mechanism is effective for reducing the speed of'forward motion ofthe mold as it approaches an at-rest position in an operating station.It thenpositively moves the mold to its at-rest position. Then eithermanually or autornatically upon the approach of another mold, it'movesthe mold in the at-rest position to a discharge position, impartingsufficient momentum to the mold to cause it to move to the next station.Upon movement of the mold from the at-rest position to the dischargeposition, the control mechanism reverses its position to a moldreceivingposition where it will be engaged by the oncoming mold to cushion itsmovement toward the at-rest position.

I claim:

1. In a device for controlling the movement of a member along a path oftravel to arrestthe forward motion thereof and bring the member to apredetermined at-rest position in said path of travel, a control armpivoted for movement, means on the control arm engageable with themember to be controlled, a fluid pressure cylinder having a pistonmovable-therein; a piston rod pivotally connectingsaid piston to saidcontrol arm, means for maintaining a back. pressure against said pistonto limit free movement thereof in one direction and arrest motion ofsaid member along said path of travel, and means for controlling theapplication of pressure against said piston to overcome said backpressure and move said piston in said one direction to a predeterminedposition to bring said member to an at-rest position.

2. In a device for controlling the movement of a member along a path oftravel to arrest the forward motion thereof, bring the member to apredetermined at-rest position in said path of travel, and impartmomentum to said member from said at-rest position to move the samealong said path of travel, a control arm pivoted for movement, means onthe control arm engageable with the member to be controlled, meansrestraining free movement of the control arm for a portion of itsmovement to arrest motion of said member along said path of travel,means for moving said control arm to a predetermined position to bringsaid member to an at-rest position, and means for advancing said controlarm from said predetermined position to impart momentum to said member.

3. In a device for controlling the movement of a member along a path oftravel to arrest the forward motion thereof, bring the member to apredetermined at-rest position in said path of travel, and impartmomentum to said member from said at-rest position to move the samealong said path of travel, a control arm pivoted for movement, means onthe control arm engageable with the member to be controlled, a pair offluid pressure cylinders mounted together for movement in unison, afirst piston in one of said cylinders pivotally connected to saidcontrol arm, a second piston in the other of said cylinders fixed formovement of said other cylinder with respect thereto, means for limitingthe free movement of said first piston in one direction in its cylinderto cushion the movement of said control arm and arrest the motion ofsaid member along said path of travel, means for applying fluid underpressure to said first piston to move the same in said one direction tobring said control arm to a predetermined at-rest position, and meansfor applying fluid under pressure to said second piston to move saidcylinders and said first .piston to pivot said control arm from saidatrest position and impart momentum to said member to mov the same alongsaid path of travel.

4. In a device for controlling the movement of a member along a path or"travel, a control arm pivoted for movement, a pair of mechanicalcontacts on said arm and engageable with the member to be controlled,means for positioning one of said contacts in said path of travel ofsaid mem-- her to be controlled, means for cushioning the motion of saidcontrol arm upon engagement of said member with said one of saidcontacts and pivotal motion of said control arm, said cushioned movementof said arm bringing the second of said contact-s into position forengagement with said member, and means for moving said control arm tobring said second of said contacts into engagement with said member andsaid first of said contacts out of engagement with said member todeliver said member along said path of travel.

5. In a device for controlling the movement of a member along a path oftravel, a frame, a pair of control arms, a pivot shaft to which saidarms are connected for pivotal motion in unison,

means on said arms engageable with the member to be controlled, anactuator arm connected to said pivot shaft, two fluid pressure cylindersmounted for movement in unison, a first piston in one of said cylinderspivoted to said actuator arm, a second piston in the other of saidcylinders pivoted to the frame for movement of said cylinders withrespect thereto, means for maintaining a back pressure of compressiblefluid on said first piston to normally move the same to extendedposition to pivot said control arm to a member-receiving position andfor cushioning movement of said control arm in an opposite direction,means responsive to the position of said control arm for controlling thesupply of fluid under pressure to said first piston to move the same toa retracted position against said back pressure to pivot said controlarm to a fixed at-rest position, and means for applying fluid underpressure to said second piston to move said cylinders and said firstpiston to pivot said control arm and impart momentum to said memher tomove the same along said path of travel.

6. In a device for controlling the movement of a member along a path oftravel to arrest the forward motion thereof and bring the member to apredetermined at-rest position in said path of travel, a control armpivoted for movement, means on the control arm engageable with themember to be controlled, a fluid pressure cylinder having a pistonmovable therein, means connecting said piston to said control arm, meansfor maintaining a predetermined back pressure against said piston torestrict free movement thereof in one direction and arrest motion ofsaid member along said path of travel, and means controlled by movementof said arm for applying pressure against said piston to overcome saidback pressure and move said piston in said one direction to apredetermined position to bring said member to an at-rest position.

'7. In a device for controlling the movement of a member along a path oftravel to arrest the forward motion thereof, bring the member to apredetermined at-rest position in said path of travel, and impartmomentum to said member from said at-rest position to move the samealong said path of travel, a control arm pivoted for movement, means onthe control arm engageable with the member to be controlled, meansrestraining free movement of the control arm for a portion of itsmovement to arrest motion of said member to be controlled along saidpath of travel, means for moving said control arm to a predeterminedposition to bring said member to be controlled to an at-rest position,and means controlled by an oncoming member for advancing said controlarm from said predetermined position to impart momentum to said memberto be controlled.

8. In a device for controlling the movement of a member along a path oftravel to arrest the forward motion thereof and bring the member to apredetermined at-rest position in said path of travel, a control armpivoted for movement from a member-receiving position to an at-restposition, means on the control arm engageable with the member to becontrolled and lying in said path of travel with said arm inmemberreceiving position, an air cylinder having a piston movabletherein connected to said control arm, said piston lying in extendedposition to hold said arm in mold-receiving position, means formaintaining a predetermined back pressure against said piston torestrict free movement thereof from said extended position to aretracted position to cushion movement of said control arm uponengagement by said member to be controlled, means controlled by movementof said arm from mold-receiving position effected by said member movingalong saidpath of travel for applying fluid pressure against said pistonto overcome said back pressure and move said piston to a predeterminedretracted position to bring said member to an at-rest position, andmeans controlled by movement of said member from said at-rest positionout of the control of said control arm for discontinuing the applicationof said overcoming pressure to hold said piston in retracted position,said back pressure moving said 10 piston to extended position topivotsaid arm to mold-receiving position.

CLARENCE L. HORNBERGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,156,695 Klein May 2, 19392,347,346 Wright Apr. 25, 1944 2,470,415 Seborg May 17, 1949 2,490,765Abbott Dec. 13, 1949 2,562,035 Hileman July 24, 1951

